Tanaiste Frances fitzgerald has stood down following her handling of the garda whistleblower controversy.

She says she had to resign to avoid an unwelcome and potentially destabilising general election.

In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dail he believes a good woman has left office prematurely.

Reacting to the news of the Tanaiste’s resignation on Deise Today, Sinn Fein’s David Cullinane said it was “inevitable.”

“I think it was very strange that up until this morning the Taoiseach was still saying he had confidence in the Tanaiste,” he said. “The emails that were uncovered over the past 48 hours clearly show he was very aware of the strategy to attack a whistleblower in the most malicious way.”